Few remember that one of the creators of WYD was the Argentinean Cardinal Eduardo Pironio.
He worked alongside Pope John Paul II, who named him president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. He died in 1998.
Years ago, Jorge Mario Bergoglio opened the cause for his beatification while he was archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Now, as Pope Francis, he has officially recognized that Pironio lived out Christian virtues as a hero. All that remains to beatify him is for confirmation of a miracle performed through his intercession.
Pope Francis also recognized the heroic virtues of the Italian brother Immacolato Giuseppe di Gesù.
...of the Brazilian religious sister Benigna Vittima di Gesù.
...and of the Spaniard Juanita Mendez Romero, who died in 1990.
The Pope also approved a miracle that will lead to the beatification of Italian Maria Constanza Panas.
JMB
TR: JM